Wave guide switch



Feb. 12, 1963 E. s. KELSEY WAVE GUIDE SWITCH 3 sheets- Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1960 Feb. 12, 1963 E. s. KELSEY WAVE GUIDE SWITCH r v 2 a e m rm W a 1% M K. 6 6 W Filed June 50, 1960 Feb. 12, 1963 E. s. KELSEY WAVE GUIDE SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 5); frnesz 5. M52357 Kite/1 y Filed June 30, 1960 United rates This invention relates to electrical switching devices and more particularly to switching devices for selectively directing the flow of electromagnetic energy in wave guide transmission systems.

in prior art wave guide transmission systems, electrical switches for selecting the direction of transmission through such systems have been generally modified after early types of direct current switches. Generally these switches suffer from the disadvantages that their incoming and outgoing sections are mutually at right angles to each other which requires complicated and space consuming bends in the associated wave guide runs. In addition, it is frequently diflicult to avoid undesirable twists in the connecting wave guides. Flexible wave guides have, also, been used in prior art as a means of providing switching functions. This type of wave guide switch, however, due to its irregular inner surface causing undesired attenuation and reflection, has inherently poor transmission and impedance characteristics.

It is an object of this invention to provide an electrical wave guide switch, adaptable for switching electromagnetic wave energy, without excessive bends or twists.

A further object of this invention is to provide an electrical wave guide switch having the foregoing properties wherein the continuity and the electrical characteristics of the transmitted electromagnetic wave energy are maintained uniform throughout.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical wave guide switch having the foregoing properties capable of switching electromagnetic energy in a multidirectional wave guide transmitting and receiving system.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical wave guide switch having the foregoing properties which is mechanically simple to construct.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical wave guide switch having the foregoing properties adapted to reverse the direction or transfer the flow of the electromagnetic energy in the system.

These and other objects are attained in one embodiment of the invention by providing a two-position electrical wave guide switch comprising in combination a stationary housing, having a cavity therewithin with a plurality of input and output wave guide sections in communication with the cavity by passages extending through the housing a switch member disposed within the cavity of the housing, capable of being reciprocated therewithin, having two pairs of rigid wave guide members, with a smooth inner surface mounted thereon. The members of each pair are arranged in cruciform in individual parallel planes spaced a predetermined distance apart, individually and in pairs, so disoposed on the switch member that the members of one pair are in planes perpendicular to the direction of motion and the members of the other pair are in planes parallel to the direction of motion of the switch member.

A better understanding of this invention may be had by referring to the following description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a planar type of switch, in which the invention is represented, in its two positions of operation;

FIG. 1A illustrates part of an end view of the switch shown in FIG. 1;

atent ice FIG. 15 illustrates a plan view of the left half of FIG. 3 and FIG. 1C illustrates a side view of the right half of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the disposition of the movable members of the switch when in the positions illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively;

FlGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of a rotary type switch, in which the invention is represented, in two of its positions of operation;

Fi -GS. 6 and 7 are perspective views showing the disposition of the movable members of he switch when in the positions illustrated in F168. 4 and 5;

FIG. 6A illustrates a plan view of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7A is a side view of PEG. 7;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views of a rotary type of switch, in which the invention is represented, when employed as a transfer switch, and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are perspective views showing the disposition of the movable members of the switch when in the positions illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

Considering FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 there is shown a tationary housing 1, having a cavity therewithin, to which is connected individual pairs of input and output wave guide sections 2, 4- and Ii, 5 respectively terminating in wave guide ports 46, 43 and 47, 49, wave guide ports 46 and i? are positioned at diagonally opposite corners of rectangle A and wave guide ports 23, 49 at the other diagonally opposite corners of rectangle B, with rectangles being of the same size, shape and orientation; a switch member 6, adapted to be closely fitted and slidable within the cavity of housing 1 and actuated by rod 7, on which are mounted a first and second pair of rigid wave guide members 8, 9 and 1d, 11 having a smooth inner surface, in communication with the wave guide sections 2, 4 and 3, 5 through wave guide ports 46, 48 and 47, 49.

The wave guide members 8, 9 and 10, 11 are individually arranged in cruciform in individual parallel planes, spaced a predetermined distance apart, disposed on the switch member 6 so that, when the switch member 6 is reciprocated, the members of one pair 8, 9 are in planes perpendicular to and the members of the other pair I'll, Ill are in planes parallel to the direction of reciprocation of the switch member 6, wave guide memhero 3, 9 and ill, 11 being arranged so that they are in communication with selected wave guide sections 2, 3 and 4, 5 through the passages in response to the reciprocation of the switch member 6.

In the operation of the switch as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the switch is in the position shown in FIG. 1, the electromagnetic energy is transmitted in the direction 2-84 and 593 as shown at the right of FIG. 3. When the switch is reciprocated in the direction shown, so that the switch assumes the position shown in FIG. 2, the spacing between the movable wave guide members 8, 9 and 1t), 11, taken between the members or in pairs is such that the electromagnetic energy is transmitted in the direction 2-11-5 and 4-10-31 as shown at the left of FIG. 3 so that the direction of the transmission of energy is reversed, in Wave guide sections 4 and 5. The points A, E, C, D, E, F, G and H assume the positions of points A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1B and 1C.

Considering FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the drawings there is shown a stationary housing 12, having end plates 13, 14-, with smooth inner surfaces, and base 15, a rotor contained within the housing consisting of supporting plates 16, 1'7, with smooth inner surfaces, rotatable by rod 13, to which are attached rigid wave guide members 19, 2d, 21, 22 with a smooth inner surface. Wave guide members 19, 22 are in communication, as in FIG. 4, with wave guide sections 2, 3 and 4, 5 or wave guide members Ztl, 21, as in FIG. 5, are in communication with wave agonally opposite corners of rectangle B, both rectangles being of the same size, shape and orientation.

The wave guide members 19, 2t 21, 22 are individually arranged in cruciform in individual planes such that when the rotor is rotated the members 19, 20, 21, 22 are disposed in horizontal or vertical planes, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,'the spacing between the planes being such that the members are in communication with selected wave guide sections 2, 3, 4, 5 through wave guide ports 56, 51, 52, 53 through the plates 13, E4, l6, 17.

In the operation of the switch as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and diagrammaticallyv in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the switch is in the position shown in FIG. 4 andv FIG. 6, Wave guide members 19 and 22 are in horizontal cruciform relation, see FIG. 6A, and are in planes A, B, C, D and M, N, O, Q, (PEG. 6) respectively, the-spacing between the horizontal planes being such that the wave guide members 19 and 22 are in communication through wave guide ports 51, 52 and $9, 53 with wave guide sections 3, 4 and 2, 5 respectively, so that electromagnetic energy is transmitted in the direction 4-19-3 and 2-2245 as shown in FIG. 4. When the switch is rotated through ninety degrees to the position shown in FIG. 5 and diagrammatically in FIG. 7, wave guide members Ed and 21, disposed after rotation in vertical cruciform relation (see FIG. 7A), in parallel planes E, F, G, H and I, J, i, L respectively, displace wave guide members 19 and Z-Zto provide communication through Wave guide ports 51, 53 and 5d, 52 with wave guide sections 3, 5 and 2, 4 respectively, so that electromagnetic energy is now transmitted in the direction 2-21-4 and 5-2d-3 as shown in FIG. 5. The direction of transmission over wave guide sections 4 and 5 has thus been reversed.

Considering FIGS. 8, 9, l and 11 there is shown a stationary housing 24, having attached end plates 25, 26, base 27, external input and output wave guide sections 28, 29, 3t), 31, and 32, 33, 34, 35, and a rotor contained within the housing consisting of supporting plates 36, 37, rotatable by rod 38, to which are attached rigid wave guide members 39, 4t and 41, 42. and as, 45', as in FIG. 8, in communication with the wave guide sections 28, 29, 3t 31 and 32, 33, 34, 35.

Wave guide sections 23, 29, 3t 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 terminate in wave guide ports 54, 55 and 56, 57, 54, 55 58 and 59 respectively. Wave guide ports 54, 55, 54' and 55 are disposed at the four corners of rectangle A and waveguide ports 56, 57, 58 and at the four corners of rectangle B, both rectangles .being of the same shape, size and orientation.

In the operation of the switch when the switch is in the position shown in FIG. 10, the, electromagnetic energy is transmitted in the direction 28,-39-30and 31-40-29. When the switch is rotatedto, the position shown in FIG. 11, the electromagnetic energy is transmitted 2$-45-34 and -44-29, FIG. 11, thehwave guide members 44 and in vertical planes E, F, G, H and I, J, K, L respectivelyreplacing wave guide members 3% and 40 in horizontal planes'A, B, C, D.

What is claimed is:

1, In an electrical wavev guide switch comprising in combination: a stationary housing, having a cavity therein, withparallel flat rectangular sides spaced apart, one side being provided with an individual input and an output wave guide port disposed at diagonally opposite corners of a first rectangle and the other side with an input and an output wave guide port disposed at the other diagonally oppositecorners of a second rectangle of the same shape, size and orientation as the first rectangle, individual input and output wave guide sections connected to the ports external to the side: a first and'second pair of wave guide switch members, disposed on a support movable in a reciprocable relation within the housing, in close slidable contact with the parallel sides of the housing, the members arranged so that when the support is in one position the members of the first pair are oriented in cruciform relation, in individual parallel horizontal planes spaced apart, so that they are in alignment and in communication with the input and output ports and in a second position the members of the second pair oriented in cruciform relation, in parallel vertical planes spaced apart, so that they are in alignment and in communication with the input and output ports.

2. A wave guide switch comprising in combination; a stationary housing having afirst pair of end plates, the plates being spaced apart in parallel relation, one plate being provided with an input and output port disposed at diagonally opposite corners of a first rectangle and the other end platewith an input and output port disposed at the other diagonally opposite corners of a rectangle of the same shape, size and orientation as the first rectangle, individual wave guide sections external to the end plates and connected to the ports; a second pair of end plates, rotatable. within the housing, the plates being spaced apart in parallel relation and in close slidable contact with the first pair of end plates; a first and second pair of wave guide switch members connected to the second pair of end plates arranged and oriented so that when the second pair of end plates are in one position the first pair of wave guide members are in cruciform relation in individual parallel horizontal planes spaced apart so that they are in alignment and communication with the input and output ports and when the end plates have been rotated to a second position the wave guide members of the second pair are oriented in cruciform relation in individual parallel vertical planes spaced apart so that they are in alignment and communication with the ports.

3. A wave guide switch comprising in combination: a stationary housing having a first pair of end plates, the plates being spaced apart and in parallel relation, the first end plate being provided with Wave guide ports at the two upper corners of a first rectangle and the second end plate with ports at the four corners of a second rectangle of the same shape, size and orientation as the first rectangle, individual wave guide sections connected to the ports and external to the end plates; a second pair of end plates rotatable within the housing, the plates being spaced apart in parallel relation and in close rotatable contact with the first pair of end plates; a first and second pair of waveguide switch members secured to the second pair of end plates, and arranged and oriented so that when the second pair of end plates are in a first position/the first pair of wave guide members are in parallel relation in a horizontal plane such that they are in alignment and communication with the wave guide ports of the first end plate and with the upper wave guide ports in the second end plate and so that when the second pair of end plates are in a second position the second pair of wave guide members are in parallel vertical planes, spaced apart and oriented so as to be in alignment and communication with the wave guideports of the first end plate and with the lower wave guide ports in the second end plate.

4. A wave. guide switch comprising in combination: a stationary housing having a first pair of end plates, theplates being spaced, apart and in parallel relation each end plate being provided with a wave guide port at each corner of rectangles of the same shape, size and orientation, individual wave guide sections connected to the ports and external to the end plates; a second pair of end plates rotatable within the housing the plates being spaced apart in parallel relation and in close rotatable contact with the first pair of end plates, a first and second pair of wave guide switch members secured to the second pair of end plates and arranged and oriented so that when the switch member is in a first position each pair of wave guide members are in individual horizontal planes spaced apart, the wave guide members of each pair being in parallel relation and also arranged so that in this first position the wave guide members are in alignment and communication with the ports; an additional pair of wave guide members secured to the second pair of end plates the additional members arranged and oriented so that when the first and second end plate of the second pair of end plates have been rotated to a second position the additional members are arranged in vertical planes spaced apart and oriented so that the wave guide members are in alignment and in communication with the upper ports of the first end plate of the second pair and with the lower ports of the second end plate of the second pair, the arrangement and orientation of said additional members being such that when rotated to a third position separated 180 from the second position the additional wave guide members are in alignment and in communication with the lower ports of the first end plate and the upper ports of the second end plate of the second pair of end plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,905,968 Holzschuh Sept. 22, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,076,926 France Apr. 28, 1954 

1. IN AN ELECTRICAL WAVE GUIDE SWITCH COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A STATIONARY HOUSING, HAVING A CAVITY THEREIN, WITH PARALLEL FLAT RECTANGULAR SIDES SPACED APART, ONE SIDE BEING PROVIDED WITH AN INDIVIDUAL INPUT AND AN OUTPUT WAVE GUIDE PORT DISPOSED AT DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE CORNERS OF A FIRST RECTANGLE AND THE OTHER SIDE WITH AN INPUT AND AN OUTPUT WAVE GUIDE PORT DISPOSED AT THE OTHER DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE CORNERS OF A SECOND RECTANGLE OF THE SAME SHAPE, SIZE AND ORIENTATION AS THE FIRST RECTANGLE, INDIVIDUAL INPUT AND OUTPUT WAVE GUIDE SECTIONS CONNECTED TO THE PORTS EXTERNAL TO THE SIDE; A FIRST AND SECOND PAIR OF WAVE GUIDE SWITCH MEMBERS, DISPOSED ON A SUPPORT MOVABLE IN A RECIPROCABLE RELATION WITHIN THE HOUSING, IN CLOSE SLIDABLE CONTACT WITH THE PARALLEL SIDES OF THE HOUSING, THE MEMBERS ARRANGED SO THAT WHEN THE SUPPORT IS IN ONE POSITION THE MEMBERS OF THE FIRST PAIR ARE ORIENTED IN CRUCIFORM RELATION, IN INDIVIDUAL PARALLEL HORIZONTAL PLANES SPACED APART, SO THAT THEY ARE IN ALIGNMENT AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INPUT AND OUTPUT PORTS AND IN A SECOND POSITION THE MEMBERS OF THE SECOND PAIR ORIENTED IN CRUCIFORM RELATION, IN PARALLEL VERTICAL PLANES SPACED APART, SO THAT THEY ARE IN ALIGNMENT AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INPUT AND OUTPUT PORTS. 